Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Melkite Archbishop Elias Chacour of Haifa, Canon 210 of the Eastern Code of Canon Law allows for resignation for health reasons or at the age of 75. Archbishop Chacour is 74.

Archbishop Chacour has been temporarily replaced by a new apostolic administrator, Maronite Archbishop Moussa El-Hage of Haifa, apparently out of logistical considerations, since he is the archbishop with offices closest to the seat of the Melkite Archdiocese of Haifa. Melkite Archbishop Joseph Zerey of Jerusalem is 72, while bringing in an archbishop from Lebanon would mean taking him away from his own parishioners for days at a time when he would need to travel to Haifa and cross an international border.